Where two acoustic pianos are of the same quality of build, the bigger piano will have a better sound.  This is because the strings are longer.  A pitch of a string is determined by the tension, length and mass; so if a string is longer but needs to be at the same tension (to create the same note), you need a thinner string.  Thinner strings vibrate more easily which, alongside a bigger soundboard/amplifier gives you a better sound. 

Where the quality of materials of a piano are better, an instrument will need more time setting up to make the most of these materials.  For mass produced pianos, there is a certain amount of time allocated for every task needed to build a piano (usually around 18 minutes).  This means that on a production line, you get different people working on different sections of a piano and you only ever get an average of everybody’s work. 

High quality pianos both have a higher potential and one technician working on a piano to get the best out of it.  They will spend a huge amount of time voicing, toning and regulating each individual piano. 

You could say a piano is as good as the technicians that have worked on it.  The cheaper mass produced pianos probably have more potential but because pianos are built to a price point, it is not worth spending the time and money improving them.  Those choosing entry level pianos may not notice so much, because technically they are not going to use the piano to its full potential anyway.  Beginners are not going to be playing fast runs, repeated notes, hugely varied dynamics and articulation or other techniques where they need the piano to respond as quickly and sensitively as intermediate to professional players. 

Our second hand pianos are properly set up and serviced in our workshops, which is reflected in the price compared to those found for sale privately.